Saint Guy
Martyr (+ 303)
Saint Vite (en latin
Vitus) ou saint Guy, saint Guido, selon les pays, originaire de Sicile,
témoigna de sa foi au Christ comme martyr, vers 303, à Rome, sous l'empereur
Dioclétien. Des reliques furent transportées par les moines bénédictins à Saint
Denis en France au début du IXe siècle puis en 836 au monastère de la
Nouvelle-Corbie, Corwey en Westphalie, toujours par des moines bénédictins.
Quelques éléments des reliques de saint Vite, furent transférées à Prague, à la
demande du duc de Bohème, saint Venceslas, à la fin du Xe siècle. Le culte de
saint Guy ou Vite, était très répandu dans le nord de la France et en Belgique.
Au XIVe siècle, lors
d'une grave épidémie, il fut invoqué et c'est ainsi que l'on parle de "la
danse de saint Guy" dont il guérissait les malades qui demandaient son
intercession.
En Lucanie, saint Guy,
martyr, probablement sous Dioclétien, vers 303.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/1325/Saint-Guy.html
Fuß
auf dem von ihm bezwungenen Löwen; aus dem Weißenauer Passionale;
Fondation Bodmer, Coligny, Switzerland; Cod. Bodmer 127, fol. 103r
Illumination
from the Passionary of Weissenau (Weißenauer Passionale); Fondation
Bodmer, Coligny, Switzerland; Cod. Bodmer 127, fol. 103r.
Saint Guy
Il subit le martyre dans
la province de Matera (Italie) au cours des premiers siècles. Son culte se développa
en Allemagne à partir de 836, date à laquelle ses reliques arrivèrent à
l'abbaye de Corvey (Saxe). Parmi les sanctuaires qui lui furent élevés en
Allemagne, celui de Dresselhausen (près d'Ulm) connut la célébrité au XVème
siècle. A cette époque une épidémie de chorée ravageait l'Allemagne et les
Pays-Bas. On accourut de partout à Dresselhausen. Ce fut alors que cette
maladie prit le nom de « danse de Saint Guy »; alors aussi celui-ci
fut mis au nombre des Saints Auxiliateurs et son renom de thaumaturge se
répandit dans l'Europe entière.
Richard
de Montbaston, Martyre de saint Vit et de saint Modeste (Martyrdom of
Vitus, Modestus, Crescentia), XIVe siècle
Saints Vite (ou Guy),
Modeste et Crescence
Culte local romain au
VIIème siècle. Fête au XIIème siècle.
Saint Vite est un martyr
de Lucanie, dont le culte se propagea de bonne heure dans l’Italie méridionale
et spécialement en Sicile. C’est là que la légende lui adjoignit deux
compagnons, Modeste et Crescent. Le culte de saint Vite est attesté à Rome au
7e siècle par le sacramentaire gélasien. Il avait pour centre l’Esquilin, où
une diaconie et un monastère avaient saint Vite pour titulaire [1].
Le Hiéronymien annonce
successivement : in Lucania Viti ; in Sicilia Viti, Modesti et Crescentiae.
Bède adopte la première mention. Les Gélasiens du 8e et l’évangéliaire
romano-franc de 750 font de même. Florus, suivi par Adon et Usuard, opte pour
la légende sicilienne. A Rome on trouve saint Vite seul dans l’évangéliaire du
9e siècle et, au 11e siècle, dans les témoins. A la fin du 12e siècle, c’est la
légende sicilienne qui prévaut au Latran et au Vatican.
[1] G. Ferrari, Early
roman monasteries, pp. 345-352.
Leçon des Matines avant
1960
Troisième leçon. Vite fut
baptisé tout enfant à l’insu de son père, qui, l’ayant appris, n’omit rien pour
détacher son fils de la religion chrétienne ; et comme l’enfant demeurait
inébranlable, il le livra au juge Valérien pour être battu de verges ; Vite
persistant néanmoins dans sa résolution, on le rendit à son père. Pendant que
celui-ci cherchait de plus grands châtiments, le jeune Vite, averti par un Ange
et conduit par Modeste et Crescence, qui l’avaient élevé, gagna une terre
étrangère. Là, sa sainteté arriva à un tel éclat, que sa renommée parvint
jusqu’à Dioclétien. L’empereur, qui avait un fils tourmenté par le démon,
appela le Saint pour l’en délivrer ; mais, cette délivrance une fois obtenue,
le prince ingrat tenta, par l’offre des plus grandes récompenses, d’amener le
libérateur de son fils au culte des faux dieux, et, ne pouvant y réussir, il le
fit jeter en prison, chargé de chaînes, avec Modeste et Crescence. Les trouvant
plus inébranlables que jamais, l’empereur donna l’ordre de les plonger dans une
chaudière remplie de plomb fondu, de poix et de résine embrasée ; comme les
trois enfants hébreux, ils y chantèrent des hymnes au Seigneur. On les en
retira pour les jeter à un lion ; mais le lion se coucha devant eux et lécha
leurs pieds. Enflammé de colère de voir la foule touchée par ce miracle,
Dioclétien les fit étendre sur le chevalet, où leurs membres furent mis en
pièces et leurs os rompus. Au même moment se produisirent des éclairs, du
tonnerre et de grands tremblements de terre qui renversèrent les temples des
dieux et tuèrent beaucoup de monde. Une femme noble, appelée Florence, recueillit
les restes des Martyrs et, les ayant embaumés de parfums, les ensevelit
honorablement.
Schwabach
- City Church. Altar of Saint Vitus ( 1450 ) - Martyrdom of Saints Vitus,
Modestus and Crescentia.
Schwabach
- Stadtkirche. Veitsaltar ( 1450 ) - Martyrium der heiligen Veit, Modestus
und Crescentia.
Dom Guéranger, l’Année
Liturgique
L’Esprit divin qui règne
sur cette partie du Cycle, est avant tout le témoin du Verbe [2]. L’Homme-Dieu
l’annonçait sous ce titre au monde qu’il devait laisser pour retourner à son
Père, après avoir rendu lui-même son grand témoignage à la vérité souveraine
[3]. Formés par l’Esprit sur le type du Fils de l’homme, les fidèles sont aussi
des témoins, dont la mission est de refouler le mensonge, ennemi de Dieu, en
exprimant la vérité dans leurs paroles et leurs actes. Mais le témoignage
suprême, qu’il n’est pas donné à tous de rendre, est celui du sang ; les
martyrs sont les privilégiés de cette lutte incessante du vrai contre le faux,
en laquelle se résume l’histoire. Ils ne pouvaient manquer de briller au ciel
en ces jours. Bientôt l’Église va tressaillir à la naissance de Jean le
Précurseur, cet homme si grand entre tous [4], et dont la grandeur fut d’avoir
été envoyé par Dieu pour servir de témoin, pour rendre témoignage à la lumière
[5]. Nous aurons alors occasion de méditer plus longuement ces pensées,
auxquelles semblent vouloir nous préparer déjà les groupes joyeux de martyrs
qui vont se succéder, comme pour annoncer la prochaine arrivée de l’Ami de
l’Époux [6].
Aujourd’hui, accompagné
de ses fidèles nourriciers Modeste et Crescence, c’est un enfant qui vient nous
apprendre le prix du baptême, et la fidélité due contre tous au Père qui est
dans les cieux. Sa gloire est grande, au ciel et sur la terre ; les démons, qui
tremblaient devant lui, continuent de le craindre ; son nom reste inscrit dans
la mémoire du peuple chrétien comme celui de l’un de ses plus puissants
auxiliaires, à la suite de saint Elme ou Érasme, dont le commencement de ce
mois nous ramenait le souvenir. Saint Vite, ou saint Gui, garde le pouvoir de
délivrer ceux qui recourent à lui dans les atteintes du triste mal qui porte
son nom. Il neutralise la morsure des chiens enragés, et se montre secourable
aux animaux eux-mêmes. On le prie encore contre la léthargie, ou le sommeil
trop prolongé ; le coq qui l’accompagne en diverses représentations rappelle
cet usage, ainsi que celui d’invoquer notre saint pour obtenir d’être réveillé
à une heure déterminée.
Vos combats sont finis,
glorieux martyrs ; ils ont peu dure, mais la couronne qu’ils vous valurent est
éternelle. Pour toujours vous est acquise, ô Modeste et Crescence, la
reconnaissance de Dieu même, à qui vous avez rendu fidèlement le dépôt qu’il
vous confia dans cet enfant devenu le vôtre par là foi et le saint baptême. Et
vous, noble enfant qui préférâtes le Père du ciel à celui de la terre, qui dira
la tendresse dont vous entoure à jamais Celui que vous avez si courageusement
reconnu devant les hommes ? Il veut que dès ici-bas éclatent à votre endroit
les marques de sa munificence ; car il vous confie une large part dans
l’exercice de sa puissance miséricordieuse. En retour de la sainte liberté qui,
dès les premières lueurs de la raison, régna dans votre âme et soumit dans une
complète obéissance votre corps à cette âme, vous possédez sur la nature déchue
un pouvoir merveilleux : les malheureux dont les membres désordonnément agités
par une cruelle maladie ne connaissent plus la direction d’une volonté
maîtresse, les hommes mêmes qu’un sommeil trop prolongé ne laisse point libres
de leurs actes, retrouvent à vos pieds la parfaite harmonie du corps et de
l’âme, la docilité du premier permettant à celle-ci de vaquer aux devoirs qui
lui incombent envers Dieu et la société. Illustre saint, soyez toujours plus
large dans l’exercice de votre don précieux, pour le bien de l’humanité
souffrante et la plus grande gloire du Dieu qui vous a couronné. Nous vous
demandons pour tous avec l’Église, et par vous nous demandons à Dieu la
destruction de l’orgueil qui rompt l’équilibre dans l’homme et le fait dévier
de sa voie, le mépris du mal qui lui rend au contraire la liberté dans l’amour
: superbe non sapere, sed placita humilitate proficere, ut, prava despiciens,
quœcumque recta sunt libera exerceat charitate [7].
[2] Johan. XV, 26.
[3] Ibid. XVIII, 37.
[4] Matth. XI, 11.
[5] Johan. I, 6-8.
[6] Johan. III, 29.
[7] Collecta diei.
Bhx Cardinal
Schuster, Liber Sacramentorum
Les Actes de saint Vite
ont tellement subi d’interpolations qu’il est difficile d’y retrouver la
vérité. Il s’agit d’un martyr auquel le Hiéronymien assigne pour patrie tantôt
la Lucanie, tantôt la Sicile, et dont le culte fut très répandu en Italie
durant la période lombarde. La présence d’une messe en son honneur dans le
Gélasien, est due sans doute à l’existence du monastère de Saint-Vite, près de
l’arc de Gallien. C’est de ce monastère qu’en 768 fut élevé au pontificat, en
compétition avec Sixte IV, le prêtre Philippe. Celui-ci voyant dès le lendemain
que les choses tournaient mal, revint aux tranquilles travaux de son cloître et
ne voulut plus entrer dans ces compétitions contre le pontife légitime.
Le Liber Pontificalis
mentionne un autre oratoire, dédié à saint Vite, et qui s’élevait dans le
monastère de Corsas sur la voie Appienne. Cette chapelle a disparu depuis
longtemps. En revanche, la diaconie de Saint-Vite existe encore, et les fidèles
la fréquentent toujours, particulièrement s’ils ont été victimes de chiens
enragés ou de serpents venimeux ; souvent, ils y obtiennent la santé.
La messe était, à
l’origine, exclusivement dédiée à saint Vite ; plus tard, les martyrs Modeste
et Crescence y eurent part eux aussi ; selon les Actes, le premier aurait été
le précepteur et la seconde, la nourrice de saint Vite.
L’antienne pour l’introït
est tirée du psaume 33 et décrit le sort des justes tant en ce monde que dans
l’autre : ici-bas, ils sont éprouvés par de nombreuses tribulations, afin
qu’ils accomplissent en eux-mêmes le mystère du Crucifié ; mais Dieu les
secourt par sa grâce, et non seulement au ciel il préserve leur âme de la haine
des persécuteurs, mais encore il se porte garant de leur réunion à leur corps,
qui repose sous l’autel du temple dans l’attente de la résurrection finale.
La première collecte veut
nous obtenir du Seigneur l’humilité, cette humilité si nécessaire à la vie
chrétienne, et grâce à laquelle tant d’âmes simples et pauvres, et jusqu’à des
enfants, assistés de la divine puissance, affrontèrent le martyre. Cette basse
opinion de nous-mêmes, ce dépouillement de l’esprit propre, éteindra en nous la
fièvre de l’égoïsme et nous rendra agiles dans l’exercice de la divine charité.
La première lecture est
tirée du livre de la Sagesse (III, 1-18). L’âme des justes s’est confiée à
Dieu, et il la garde et la sauve, même si dans ce but il permet que les impies
l’éprouvent par leurs tourments. Ceux-ci, loin de contrevenir d’une façon quelconque
aux desseins divins, entrent au contraire dans leur plan pour la prédestination
des élus, puisque l’épreuve à laquelle ils soumettent les saints est comme la
flamme d’un creuset où l’or se purifie.
Le répons est tiré du
psaume 149 et continue, pour ainsi dire, la description du paradis des martyrs,
commencée dans la lecture précédente. — Tel est, en effet, le véritable
caractère du psaume responsorial classique : il doit être en étroite relation
avec la lecture, comme s’il voulait exprimer les sentiments que celle-ci a
excités dans l’auditoire. — « Que les saints triomphent dans la gloire, et
qu’assis sur leurs lits, ils chantent. Chantez à Yahweh un cantique nouveau, —
celui de l’amour, explique saint Augustin, — célébrez-le au milieu des assemblées
des justes ». Les saints dans le ciel sont unis entre eux par une charité si
parfaite que la béatitude de l’un est un motif pour tous les autres de se
réjouir et de glorifier Dieu.
Le verset alléluiatique
est semblable à l’antienne d’introït du 22 avril.
La lecture évangélique
est tirée de saint Luc (X, 16-20). Jésus confère à ses disciples tout pouvoir
sur le démon, en sorte que les serpents et les autres animaux venimeux ne
pourront leur nuire, allusion évidente à la vertu thaumaturgique de saint Vite
en faveur des victimes de l’hydrophobie. — Toutefois, loin de mettre leur
confiance dans ces grâces qui leur sont principalement accordées pour
l’édification d’autrui, que les chrétiens visent de plus en plus à acquérir les
vertus qui assureront leur salut éternel. Ainsi faisait saint Paul ; au moyen
de la pénitence il réduisait son corps en servitude, pour ne pas connaître le
malheur d’être rejeté avec les réprouvés après avoir évangélisé le monde
entier.
L’antienne qu’on
intercalait dans le psaume 67 durant la présentation des offrandes, est
identique à celle du 22 janvier. Le sens littéral ne se rapporte point aux
saints, comme le ferait croire la version latine, mais au sanctuaire de
Jérusalem. « O Yahweh, vous êtes terrible de votre sanctuaire ! Le Dieu
d’Israël donne à son peuple valeur et force. Yahweh soit béni ! » Voici, donc,
d’où les martyrs ont tiré un si grand courage. « Aujourd’hui, — disait sainte
Félicité de Carthage en proie aux douleurs de l’enfantement, — aujourd’hui
c’est moi qui souffre ce que je souffre ; quand, au contraire, je serai exposée
aux bêtes féroces dans le cirque, alors ce sera un autre qui souffrira pour
moi, puisque c’est pour lui qu’alors je souffrirai. »
La collecte avant
l’anaphore a une exquise saveur d’antiquité classique. « Comme aujourd’hui les
oblations présentées à l’autel pour la fête des martyrs sont une confirmation
de la puissance de la divine grâce, qu’ainsi elles nous obtiennent le salut à
nous aussi ».
L’antienne pour la
distribution des saints Mystères au peuple est la même que le 2 juin. Les
pensées de la foi et les jugements de Dieu sont bien différents de ceux du
monde. Les martyrs succombent au milieu des douleurs et des tourments ; les
persécuteurs appellent cela la mort, tandis qu’eux au contraire, calmes et
sereins, prennent leur vol vers le ciel.
La prière après la
Communion contient une allusion au caractère solennel et stationnal qu’avaient
autrefois toutes ces messes de martyrs. « Comblés aujourd’hui d’une solennelle
bénédiction, nous vous demandons, Seigneur, par l’intercession de vos martyrs
Vite, Modeste et Crescence, que la grâce médicinale du Sacrement soit
profitable à notre âme non moins qu’à notre corps ».
Comme nous l’avons déjà
observé ailleurs, la divine Eucharistie, en tant qu’elle contient l’antidote du
poison répandu par le serpent dans le fruit de l’Éden, peut conférer au corps
lui-même santé, force et heureuse jeunesse. Saint Grégoire de Nazianze raconte
que sa sœur n’acceptait pas d’autres remèdes que la sainte Communion. Aussi
l’Église, dans ses collectes, nous fait-elle demander souvent avec la santé de
l’âme celle du corps, pour que nous puissions mieux servir Dieu et le prochain.
Pfarrkirche
St. Vitus, Altmannshofen, Gemeinde Aichstetten. Heiliger Vitus mit seinen zwei
Erziehern, dem Lehrer Modestus und der Amme Kreszentia, Tafelbild an der linken
Wand des Kirchenschiffs
Dom Pius Parsch, le Guide
dans l’année liturgique
L’humilité est la vertu
fondamentale.
1. Les saints du jour. —
Jour de mort : 15 juin, vers 305. Tombeau : Primitivement à Rome. Les reliques
de saint Vit furent transférées en divers lieux ; un bras se trouve dans la
cathédrale Saint-Vit, à Prague. Image : On représente saint Vit avec une bassine
de poix bouillante. Vie : D’après les actes légendaires, Vit fut baptisé tout
enfant à l’insu de son père. Dès que son père l’apprit, il le fit battre de
verges par le juge. Comme son père songeait à des châtiments plus sévères, Vit,
sur l’ordre d’un ange, se rendit en Sicile avec son maître Modeste et sa
nourrice Crescence. Mais là aussi ils furent persécutés à cause de la foi. On
les jeta dans une chaudière d’huile bouillante, mais, comme les trois jeunes
gens dans la fournaise, ils n’eurent aucun mal et chantèrent les louanges de
Dieu. Les bêtes féroces ne voulurent pas les toucher ; Enfin ils moururent tous
martyrs. Saint Vit est un des 14 saints qu’on invoque dans les cas désespérés.
Pratique. — L’oraison
d’aujourd’hui nous enseigne à pratiquer, à l’exemple de nos saints martyrs, la
vertu d’humilité : « Nous t’en prions, Seigneur, donne à ton Église, par
l’intercession des saints martyrs, Vit, Modeste et Crescence, de ne pas avoir
des sentiments d’orgueil, mais de marcher dans l’humilité qui te plaît, afin
qu’elle méprise le mal et accomplisse tout bien dans la liberté de la charité
».
2. La messe (Multae
tribulationes). — La messe contient presque uniquement des textes propres. Ces
textes sont, comme c’est le cas dans les messes antiques, un éloge du martyre.
Dès l’Introït, l’Église nous enseigne que les martyrs, malgré toutes leurs
tribulations, sont dans la main de Dieu. Dieu les garde pour l’éternité. La
communauté chante en même temps le psaume de prédilection de l’ancienne Église,
le psaume 33. La leçon exprime la même pensée : le sort des justes (« justi »
est l’expression habituelle de la liturgie) sur la terre et dans le ciel. Ici,
ils souffrent de grands tourments, mais ils sont comme l’or qui doit être
purifié dans le feu des souffrances. Dieu accepte leur mort comme un agréable
holocauste. Là-haut, ils brilleront comme des étincelles et participeront à la
royauté du Christ. Le Graduel se rattache, comme un écho, à l’Épître.
L’Alléluia est un véritable « louez le Seigneur » dans la bouche des saints.
L’Évangile ne se trouve sans doute nulle part ailleurs dans le missel. Les 72
disciples que le Seigneur a envoyés se réjouissent du succès merveilleux qu’ils
ont remporté. Le Christ confirme qu’il leur a donné le pouvoir de « marcher sur
les serpents et les scorpions, et la force contre toute puissance de l’ennemi
». Mais ils doivent estimer bien plus la joie d’être enfants de Dieu, le fait «
que leurs noms sont écrits au ciel ». L’Évangile est très bien choisi par
rapport au pouvoir des miracles qu’exerce saint Vit (il est considéré comme
thaumaturge surtout pour ceux qui sont mordus par des chiens enragés et des
serpents venimeux) ; mais l’Église nous enseigne aussi la véritable manière
d’honorer les saints. Le rôle des saints n’est pas de nous aider dans nos
besoins terrestres ; leur rôle, principal est de nous assurer le bonheur
éternel. Les membres glorifiés du corps mystique doivent conduire à l’éternelle
béatitude les membres qui ne sont pas encore glorifiés. Nous allons à
l’Offrande en répétant ce cri qu’aimait tant l’ancienne Église : « Dieu est
admirable dans ses saints ». L’antienne de communion se contente de répéter un
verset de la leçon : « Les saints sont dans la paix ». Ce mot paix signifie la
béatitude. Une partie de cette paix coule maintenant dans nos âmes par la
sainte Eucharistie. La postcommunion nous enseigne que le pain du ciel est un
remède pour le corps et pour l’âme.
SOURCE : http://www.introibo.fr/15-06-Sts-Vite-ou-Guy-Modeste-et
Meister der Veitslegende (fl. 1480 circa). Der hl. Veit entsagt den
Freuden der Welt , tra il 1470 e il 1480 circa, Kunsthistorisches Museum, Österreichische Galerie
Belvedere
Saint Guy
Martyr sous Dioclétien (284-305)
Fête le 15 juin
† en Lucanie [auj. Basilicate] v. 300 (?)
Groupe « Guy, Modeste et Crescence »
Autres graphies : Guy le Martyr, Gui ou Vite
Fils d’un sénateur de Sicile, Guy aurait eu pour précepteur et servante, des
chrétiens, Modeste et Crescence. Modeste fit baptiser l’enfant. Ils durent
s’enfuir vers le sud de l’Italie afin d’échapper aux persécutions. Puis ils
partirent pour Rome. Là, Guy réussit à guérir le fils de l’empereur Dioclétien,
mais dans la suite, lui et ses compagnons, Modeste et son épouse Crescence,
furent cruellement suppliciés parce qu’ils refusèrent de sacrifier aux dieux.
Cependant, ils furent libérés de leur prison par un ange, et ils retournèrent
dans l’Italie du Sud où ils moururent des suites de leurs souffrances. Cette
histoire est une légende, le fait qu’ils furent martyrs, probablement dans le
sud de l’Italie, est confirmée par l’ancienneté de la vénération qui leur est
vouée. Mais rien d’autre, pas même la date de leur martyre, n’est certain. Le
culte de saint Gui, très populaire au Moyen Âge, se répandit surtout en
Allemagne. Saint Gui, protecteur des épileptiques, fait partie des saints
auxiliateurs, on l’invoque contre l’agitation nerveuse appelée chlorée ou danse
de Saint-Gui. Il est aussi le patron des danseurs et des acteurs. Ses reliques,
dispersées dans plus de cent cinquante localités passaient pour guérir les
maladies nerveuses, et notamment l’épilepsie, appelée « danse de saint Guy »
dans la majeure partie des langues d’Europe. Saint Guy est également le patron
de la Poméranie, de la Saxe, de la Bohême, de la Basse-Saxe et de la Sicile.
Son corps fut transporté à Prague pendant la guerre de Cent ans.
SOURCE : http://www.martyretsaint.com/guy/
Schwabach
- City Church. Altar of Saint Vitus ( 1450 ) - Martyrdom of Saints Vitus,
Modestus and Crescentia.
Schwabach
- Stadtkirche. Veitsaltar ( 1450 ) - Martyrium der heiligen Veit, Modestus
und Crescentia.
SAINT VITUS ET SAINT
MODESTE *
Vitus est ainsi nommé de
vie : or, saint Augustin dans son livre de la Cité de Dieu (Lib. XIX, II, 19)
distingue trois genres de vie, savoir une vie d'action, ce qui se rapporte à la
vie active; une vie de loisir, ce qui se rapporte au loisir spirituel de la vie
contemplative, et une troisième, composée des deux autres. Et ces trois genres
de vie résidèrent en saint Virus. Ou bien Vitus vient de vertu, vertueux.
Modeste, qui se tient
dans un milieu, savoir, le milieu de la vertu. Chaque vertu tient le milieu
entre deux vices qui l’entourent comme deux extrêmes. Car la prudence a pour
extrêmes la ruse et la sottise; les extrêmes de la tempérance sont
l’accomplissement des désirs de la chair et toute espèce d'affliction qu'on
s'impose; les extrêmes de la grandeur d'âme sont la pusillanimité et la
témérité ; la justice a pour extrêmes la cruauté et l’indulgence.
Vitus, enfant distingué
et fidèle, souffrit le martyre en Sicile, à l’âge de douze ans. Il était
souvent frappé par son père pour mépriser les idoles et pour ne vouloir pas les
adorer. Le président Valérien, informé de cela, fit venir l’enfant qu'il fit
battre de verges, parce qu'il refusait de sacrifier aux idoles. Mais aussitôt
les bras des bourreaux et la main du préfet se séchèrent. Et ce dernier s'écria
: « Malheur à moi ! car j'ai perdu l’usage de ma main. » Vitus lui dit: « Que
tes dieux viennent te guérir, s'ils le peuvent. » Valérien lui répondit : « Est-ce
que tu ne le pourrais pas ? » « Je le puis, reprit Vitus, au nom de mon
Seigneur. » Alors l’enfant se mit en prières et aussitôt le préfet fut guéri.
Et celui-ci dit au père : « Corrige ton enfant, de peur qu'il ne périsse
misérablement. » Alors le père ramena son enfant chez soi, et s'efforça de
changer son coeur par la musique, par les jeux avec des jeunes filles et par
toutes sortes de plaisirs. Or, comme il l’avait enfermé dans une chambre, il en
sortit un parfum d'une odeur admirable qui embauma son père et toute sa
famille. Alors le père, regardant par la porte, vit sept anges debout autour de
l’enfant: «Les dieux, dit-il, sont venus dans ma maison », aussitôt il fut
frappé de cécité. Aux cris qu'il poussa, toute la ville de Lucana fut en émoi,
au point, que Valérien accourut et demanda au père de Vitus quel malheur lui
était survenu. « J'ai vu, lui répondit-il, des dieux de feu, et je n'ai pu
supporter l’éclat de leur visage. » Alors on le conduit au temple de Jupiter,
et pour recouvrer la vue il promet un taureau avec des cornes dorées: mais
comme il n'obtenait rien, il pria son fils de le guérir; et par ses prières, il
recouvra la vue. Or, cette merveille elle-même ne lui ouvrait pas les yeux à la
foi, mais au contraire il pensait à tuer son fils; un ange du Seigneur apparut
alors à Modeste, son précepteur, et lui ordonna de monter à bord d'un navire
pour conduire l’enfant dans un pays étranger. Il le fit; un aigle leur
apportait là leur nourriture, et ils opéraient beaucoup de miracles. Sur ces entrefaites,
le fils de l’empereur Dioclétien est saisi par le démon qui déclare ne point
sortir si Vitus de Lucana ne vient. On cherche Vitus, et quand on l’eut trouvé,
on le mène à l’empereur. Dioclétien lui dit: « Enfant, peux-tu guérir mon fils
? » « Ce n'est pas moi, dit Vitus, mais le Seigneur. » Alors il impose les
mains sur le possédé et à l’instant le démon s'enfuit. Et Dioclétien lui dit «
Enfant, veille à tes intérêts et sacrifie aux dieux, pour ne pas mourir de
malemort. » Comme Vitus refusait de le faire, il fut jeté en prison avec
Modeste. Les fers dont on les avait garrottés tombèrent et le cachot fut
éclairé par une immense lumière : cela fut rapporté à l’empereur, qui fit
sortir et jeter le saint dans une fournaise ardente, mais il s'en retira
intact. Alors on lâche, pour le dévorer, un lion furieux, qui fut adouci par la
foi de l’enfant. Enfin on l’attacha sur le chevalet avec Modeste et Crescence,
sa nourrice, qui l’avait constamment suivi. Mais soudain l’air se trouble, la
terre tremble, les tonnerres grondent, les temples des idoles s'écroulent et
écrasent beaucoup de personnes ; l’empereur lui-même est effrayé ; il fuit en
se frappant avec les poings et dit : « Malheur à moi ! puisque je suis vaincu
par un seul enfant. » Quant aux martyrs, un ange les délia aussitôt, et ils se
trouvèrent sur les bords d'un fleuve, où après s'être arrêtés quelque temps et
avoir prié, ils rendirent leur âme au Seigneur.
Leurs corps gardés par
des aigles furent trouvés par une illustre matrone nommée Florence à laquelle
saint Vitus en fit la révélation. Elle les prit et les ensevelit avec honneur.
Ils souffrirent sous Dioclétien qui commença à régner vers l’an du Seigneur
287.
* Martyrologe d'Adon.
La Légende dorée de
Jacques de Voragine nouvellement traduite en français avec introduction,
notices, notes et recherches sur les sources par l'abbé J.-B. M. Roze, chanoine
honoraire de la Cathédrale d'Amiens, Édouard Rouveyre, éditeur, 76, rue de
Seine, 76, Paris mdcccci
SOURCE : http://www.abbaye-saint-benoit.ch/voragine/tome02/083.htm
.jpg)
St.
Veitskirche (Veitsbronn), Detail des Barbaraaltars: Gemälde des Heiligen Veit
Also
known as
Guy
Veit
Vith
Vito
Profile
Legend says that Vitus
was the son of a pagan Sicilian senator
named Hylas. The boy was converted to Christianity at
age twelve by his tutor, Saint Modestus,
and his nurse Saint Crescentia.
His father showed
his objection to the conversion by
having all three arrested and scourged.
Freed from prison by angels, they fled to
Lucania, then Rome.
There Vitus freed the son of Emperor Diocletian from
an evil spirit. When Vitus would not sacrifice to the pagan gods in
celebration, his cure was attributed to sorcery, and he and his household
were arrested again. Tortured,
and condemned to death,
they were thrown to the lions;
the lions would
not touch them, so they were thrown into boiling oil. At the moment of
their deaths,
a immense storm destroyed
several pagan temples
in the region, which led to the tradition of protection against stormy weather.
One of the Fourteen
Holy Helpers.
For obscure reasons,
some 16th
century Germans believed
they could obtain a year’s good health by dancing before
a statue of Saint Vitus
on his feast day.
This dancing developed
almost into a mania, and was confused with chorea, the nervous condition
later known as Saint Vitus’ Dance, the saint being
invoked against it. His connection with such “dancing” led to his patronage of dancers,
and later to entertainers in general and in particular.
When Vitus was thrown
into the oil, a rooster was thrown into the oil with him, sacrificed as part of
the ritual against sorcery. A rooster became a symbol for Vitus, and its
connection with early rising led to Vitus’s patronage and
protection against oversleeping.
boiled in oil c.303 in Lucania, Italy
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Citation
“Saint
Vitus“. CatholicSaints.Info. 17 June 2024. Web. 17 August 2025.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-vitus/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-vitus/
Sts. Vitus, Modestus, and
Crescentia
According to
the legend, martyrs under Diocletian; feast,
15 June. The earliest testimony for
their venerationis offered by the "Martyrologium
Hieronymianum" (ed. De Rossi-Duchesne, 78: "In Sicilia,
Viti, Modesti et Crescentiae"). The fact that the note is in the
three most important manuscripts proves that
it was also in the common exemplar of these, which appeared in the fifth
century. The same Martyrologium has under the same day another Vitus
at the head of a list of nine martyrs,
with the statement of the place, "In Lucania", that is, in
the Roman province of that name in Southern Italy between
the Tuscan Sea
and the Gulf of Taranto.
It is easily possible that the same martyr Vitus
in both cases, because only the name of a territory is given, not of a city, as
the place where the martyr was venerated.
This testimony to the public veneration of the threesaints in
the fifth century proves positively that they
are historical martyrs.
There are, nevertheless, nohistorical accounts of them, nor of the time or
the details of their martyrdom.
During the sixth and seventh centuries a purely legendary narrative
of their martyrdom appeared
which was based upon other legends, especially on the legend of
Poitus, and ornamented with accounts of fantastic miracles.
It still exists in various versions, but has no historical value.
According to
this legend Vitus was a boy seven years of age (other versions make
him twelve years old), the son of a pagan senator
of Lucania. During the era of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximilian,
his father sought
in every way, including various forms of torture, to make him apostatize.
But he remained steadfast, and Godaided
him in a wonderful manner. He fled with his tutor Modestus in a boat to
Lucania. From Lucania he was taken to Rome to drive
out a demon which had taken
possession of a son of the Emperor
Diocletian. This he did, and yet, because he remained steadfast in
the Christian
Faith, he was tortured together with his tutor Modestus and his nurse
Crescentia. By a miracle an angel brought
back the martyrs to
Lucania, where they died from the tortures they had endured. Three days later
Vitus appeared to a distinguished matron namedFlorentia, who then found the
bodies and buried them in the spot where they were. It is evident
that the author of the legend has connected in his invention
three saints who
apparently suffered death in Lucania, and were first venerated there.
The veneration of the martyrs spread
rapidly in Southern Italy and Sicily,
as is shown by the note in the "Martyrologium Hieronymianum". Pope
Gregory the Great mentions a monasterydedicated to
Vitus in Sicily ("Epist.",
I, xlviii, P.L., LXXXVII, 511). The veneration of Vitus, the
chief saint of the group, also appeared very early at Rome. Pope
Gelasius (492-496) mentions a shrine dedicated to him (Jaffé,
"Reg. Rom. Pont.", 2nd ed., I, 6 79), and at Rome in
the seventh century the chapel of
a deaconry wasdedicated to
him ("Liber Pont.", ed. Duchesne, I, 470 sq.). In the eighth century
it is said that relics of St.
Vitus were brought to the monastery of St-Denis by Abbot Fulrad.
They were later presented to Abbot Warin ofCorvey in Germany,
who solemnly transferred them to this abbey in
836. From Corvey the veneration of St.
Vitus spread throughout Westphalia and
in the districts of eastern and northern Germany. St.
Vitus isappealed to, above all, against epilepsy, which is
called St. Vitus's Dance, and he is one of the
FourteenMartyrs who give aid in times of trouble. He is represented near a
kettle of boiling oil, because according to the legend he was thrown
into such a kettle, but escaped miraculously.
The feast of
the three saints wasadopted in
the historical Martyrologies of the early Middle
Ages and is also recorded in the present RomanMartyrology on
15 June.
Sources
Acta SS., June, II,
1021-1037; MOMBRITIUS, Sanctuarium, II, 349-351; (2nd ed.), II,
634-638; Catalogus codicum hagiograph., ed. BOLLANDISTS (Brussels),
I, 11-12, 54-56; Mon. Germ. Hist.: Script., II, 576-585; Historia
translationis s. Viti, ed. STENTRUP (Munster, 1906); Bibliotheca
hagiographica latina, II, 1257- 1259; Supplementum (2nd ed.),
308-309; DUFOURCQ, Étude sur les gesta martyrum romains, II (Paris, 1907),
165-177; KESSEL, St. Veit, seine Geschichte, Verehrung und bildlichen
Darstellungen in Jahrbucher des Vereins fur Altertumsfreunde im Rheinlande,
XLIII (1867), 152-183; SCHILDGEN, St. Vitus und der slavische Swantovit in
ihrer Beziehung zu einander in Programme (Munster, 1881).
Kirsch, Johann
Peter. "Sts. Vitus, Modestus, and Crescentia." The Catholic
Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton
Company, 1912. 15 Jun.
2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15490b.htm>.
Transcription. This
article was transcribed for New Advent by Michael T. Barrett. Dedicated to
the Roman martyrs.
Ecclesiastical
approbation. Nihil Obstat. October 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, S.T.D.,
Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Copyright © 2020 by Kevin
Knight. Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15490b.htm
Predella
des Veitsaltars in der Veitskirche in Flein (datiert 1514 o. 1517). Links der
Fleiner Vogt und Altarstifter Conrad Erer mit Frau und Kind vor dem Hl. Veit,
rechts Martyrium des Veit mit zwei weiteren Heiligengestalten
Predella des Veitsaltars in der Veitskirche in Flein (datiert 1514 o. 1517). Links der Fleiner Vogt und Altarstifter Conrad Erer mit Frau und Kind vor dem Hl. Veit, rechts Martyrium des Veit mit zwei weiteren Heiligengestalten
Predella
des Veitsaltars in der Veitskirche in Flein (datiert 1514 o. 1517). Links der
Fleiner Vogt und Altarstifter Conrad Erer mit Frau und Kind vor dem Hl. Veit,
rechts Martyrium des Veit mit zwei weiteren Heiligengestalten
Vitus, Modestus, & Crescentia MM (RM)
(Vitus also known as Guy, Veit, Guido)
Died c. 303. Unreliable legend has Vitus, the only son of Hylas, a senator in
Sicily, become a Christian when he was very young-- between the ages of seven
and 12--by the influence of the servants who tended him. His Christian tutor,
Modestus, and his nurse, Crescentia (wife of Modestus), accompanied him on his
journeys throughout Sicily. When his conversions and miracles became widely
known to the administrator of Sicily, Valerian, he had Vitus brought before him
to shake his faith. (Another version says that his incensed father gave him up
to Valerian.) He was unsuccessful, but Vitus with his tutor and nurse fled to
Lucania and then to Rome, where he exorcised Emperor Diocletian's son of an
evil spirit.
When Vitus would not sacrifice to the gods his cure was attributed to sorcery.
He, Modestus, and Crescentia were subjected to various tortures, including a
cauldron of molten lead, from which they emerged unscathed. For example, when
throw into the den of a hungry lion, the beast merely licked Vitus
affectionately. One version says that the tormentors gave up and freed the trio
when during a storm temples were destroyed and an angel guided them back to
Lucania, where they eventually died.
The facts are that their cultus is ancient. We are not really even certain
about when they lived, although most place their martyrdom at the time of
Diocletian. There is even some confusion about the site of their martyrdom. It
appears that they may be two separate groups: Vitus alone in Lucania (whose
cultus is the oldest), and Vitus, Modestus, and Crescentia in Sicily.
The Vitus who is alone is celebrated in the Gelasian Sacramentary and an early
South Italian Book of the Gospels, which assigns to his feast a pericope of the
cure from demonic possession and sickness. The Martyrology of Bede and the Old
English Martyrology also list Vitus by himself. There is an ancient church
dedicated to him on the Esquiline Hill of Rome. Vitus's relics were moved to
Saint-Denis in Paris. A great devotion to Vitus developed in Germany when his
relics were translated to Corvey Abbey in Saxony in 836. Most of the medieval
abbeys in England celebrated Vitus and Modestus without Crescentia, but five
who followed the Sarum Rite added her name.
Saint Vitus is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, who, as a group, are especially
venerated in France and Germany. The Holy Helpers were believed to possess
especially efficacious intercessory power. The relics of Vitus are said to
possess many healing properties, especially when epileptics prayed before them
(Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Husenbeth,
Sheppard, White).
In art, Saint Vitus is depicted as a boy with a rooster and a cauldron. At
times he may be shown (1) with his Modestus and Crescentia as they refuse to
worship idols; (2) being put into an oven; (3) with a palm and cauldron; (4)
with a palm and dog; (5) with a chalice and dog; (6) with sword and dog; (7)
with a sword and rooster; (8) with a book and rooster; (9) with a wolf or lion;
or (10) as a young prince with a palm and sceptre (Roeder).
Saint Vitus is the patron of Prague, dogs, domestic animals, young people,
dancers, coppersmiths, actors, comedians, and mummers. He is invoked against
epilepsy, lightning, poisoning by dog or snake bite, sleeplessness, snakebite,
storm, and Saint Vitus Dance (Sydenham's chorea, a nervous disorder) (Bentley,
Roeder).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0615.shtml
Chiesa
di San vito di Leguzzano (vi) al primo mattino
June 15
SS. Vitus or Guy,
Crescentia, and Modestus, Martyrs
See the Collections
of Papebroke, t. 2, Junii, p. 1013.
In the Beginning of the
Fourth Century.
THESE saints are
mentioned with distinction in the ancient Martyrologies. According to their
acts they were natives of Sicily. Vitus or Guy was a child nobly born, who had
the happiness to be instructed in the faith, and inspired with the most perfect
sentiments of his religion by his Christian nurse, named Crescentia, and her
faithful husband Modestus. His father Hylas was extremely incensed when he
discovered the child’s invincible aversion to idolatry; and finding him not to
be overcome by stripes and such like chastisements, he delivered him up to
Valerian, the governor, who in vain tried all his arts to work him into
compliance with his father’s will and the emperor’s edicts. He escaped out of
their hands, and, together with Crescentia and Modestus, fled into Italy. They
there met with the crown of martyrdom in Lucania, in the persecution of
Dioclesian. The heroic spirit of martyrdom which we admire in St. Vitus, was
owing to the early impressions of piety which he received from the lessons and
example of a virtuous nurse: of such infinite importance is the choice of
virtuous preceptors, nurses, and servants about children. 1
This reflection unfolds
the reason why certain courts and ages were so fruitful in saints. The pagan
Romans were solicitous that no slave should ever have access to their children
who did not speak with perfect elegance and purity of language; and shall not a
Christian be as careful as to manners and virtue? It is a fatal mistake to
imagine that infants are ever too young to be infected with the contagion of
vice. No age receives deeper impressions, or observes more narrowly every thing
that passes in others; nor is any thing so easily or so insensibly imbibed as a
spirit of vanity, pride, revenge, obstinacy, or sloth; or harder to be ever
corrected. What a happiness for an infant to be formed from the mother’s breast
as it were naturally to all virtue, and for the spirit of simplicity, meekness,
goodness, and piety to be moulded in its tender frame? Such a foundation being
well laid, further graces are abundantly communicated, and a soul improves
daily these seeds, and rises to the height of Christian virtue often without
experiencing severe conflicts of the passions.
Rev. Alban
Butler (1711–73). Volume VI: June. The Lives of the Saints. 1866.
SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/6/151.html
Maisach,
Kirchenstr. 12, St. Vitus: Empore. Das Gemälde links (Südseite) zeigt Vitus
zusammen mit seinen Zieheltern (=Amme Crescentia und Erzieher Modestus) im
Gefängnis, in das sie auf Veranlassung von Kaiser Diokletian geworfen wurden
Golden
Legend – Lives of Saints Vitus and Modestus
Here follow the Lives of
Saints Vitus and Modestus, and first the interpretation of their names.
Modestus is as much to
say as attemperate which is one of the cardinal virtues, and two extremities go round
about every virtue, and the virtue abideth in the midst. And the extremities of
wisdom be treachery and folly; the extremities of attemperance be the
accomplishment of all fleshly desires, and to do after his will; the extremities
of strength be feeble courage and folly; and the extremities of justice be
cruelty and default. And therefore Modestus was attemperate by means of virtues
that were in him. Vitus is said of vita, that is, life. Saint Austin, in libro
de Trinitate deviseth of three manners of life, that is the life doing, that
appertaineth to active life; a life idle that appertaineth to idleness; and a
life spiritual which appertaineth to life contemplative, and this great manner
of living was in him. Or Vitus is as much to say as virtue or right virtuous.
Of Saint Vitus and Saint
Modestus.
Saint Vitus was a child
much noble that suffered martyrdom in the age of twelve years. His father beat
him oft, because he despised the idols, but neither for beating ne smiting he would
never worship them. When Valerian the provost of Lucca heard say hereof, he
made him to come tofore him, and when Saint Vitus would not do sacrifice for
him ne for his words, he did do beat him with great staves. But the hands of
them that beat him became dry and the hands of the provost also, in such wise
that they might not bewield them. Then said the provost: Alas! alas! I have
lost mine hands. Then said to him the child Vitus: Call thy gods and pray them
that they help thee if they may. Then said the provost: Mayst thou heal me? The
child answered: I may well heal thee in the name of my Lord Jesu Christ, and
anon he made his prayer and healed him. Then said the provost to his father:
Chastise thy son, to the end that he die not an evil death. Then his father
brought him again to his own house, and made come to him harps, pipes and all
manner instruments that he might have, and after did do come maidens for to
play with him, and made him to have all manner of delights that he might get,
to mollify and change his heart. And when he had been shut and enclosed in a
chamber one day, there issued a marvellous odour and sweet savour, whereof his
father and the meiny marvelled, and when the father looked in to the chamber,
he saw two angels sitting by his son, and then said he: The gods be come into
mine house, and anon after these words he was blind. Then assembled all the
city of Lucca at the cry of the father, and the provost Valerian came also, and
demanded what it was that was happed to him. And he said to him: I have seen in
my house the gods all so shining and bright as fire, and because I might not
suffer the clearness, I am become blind. Then led they him to the temple of
Jove and promised unto him a bull, with horns of gold, for to have again his sight.
But when he saw it availed him nothing, he required his son that he would pray
for him, and anon he made his prayer unto God, and anon he was all whole. Yet
for all that he would not believe in God, but thought how he might put his son
to death. Then appeared the angel to a servant that kept him, whose name was
Modestus, and said to him: Take this child and lead him unto a strange land.
And anon he found a ship ready and entered therein, and so went out of the
country. An angel brought meat to them, and he did many miracles in the country
where he was.
Now it happed that
Diocletian, son of the emperor, had a wicked spirit in his body, and said
openly that he would not go out till the child of Lucca named Vitus was come.
Anon he sought all about the country, and after, when he was found, he was
brought to the emperor. Then he demanded if he might heal his son; he answered:
I shall not heal him, but our Lord shall. And anon he laid his hand on him and
he was all whole, so that the devil left him. Then said Diocletian: My child,
take counsel in thy works and do sacrifice unto our gods to the end that thou
die not an evil death. And Vitus answered that he would never do sacrifice to
their gods, and anon he was taken and put into prison with Modestus his servant,
and they laid mill-stones upon their bodies. And anon the mill-stones fell off,
and the prison began to shine of great light. And when it was told to the
emperor they were taken out of prison, and after, Saint Vitus was cast in to a
fire burning, but by the might of God he issued out whole and safe without
suffering of any harm. Then was there brought a terrible lion for to devour
him, but anon by the virtue of the faith he became meek and debonair. After,
the emperor made him to be hanged on a gibbet with Modestus and Crescentia his
nurse, which always followed him. Then anon the air began to trouble and
thunder, the earth to tremble, the temples of the idols to fall down and slew
many. The emperor was afeard and smote himself on the breast with his fist
saying: Alas ! alas ! a child hath overcome me. Then came an angel that unbound
them and they found themselves by a river, and there resting and praying
rendered their souls unto our Lord God, whose bodies were kept of eagles, and
afterward, by the revelation of Saint Vitus, a noble lady named Florentia took
the bodies and buried them worshipfully. They suffered martyrdom under
Diocletian about the year of our Lord two hundred and eighty-seven.
It happed afterward that
a gentleman of France bare away the heads and put them in a church which is a
mile from Lusarches, named Fosses, and closed them in a wall unto the time that
he might set them more honourably. But he died ere he might perform it, so that
the heads were there whereas no man living knew where they were. It happed so
after, that there was certain work in that church, and when the wall was broken
where the heads lay and were discovered, the bells of that church began to sound by themselves. Then
assembled the people to the church and found a writing which devised how they
had been brought thither, and then they were laid more honourably and set, than
they were tofore; and there then were showed many miracles. Then let us pray to
these glorious saints that it may please them to pray to God for us in such
wise that we may by their merits and prayers come to the glory of heaven, to
which bring us the Father and Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/golden-legend-lives-of-saints-vitus-and-modestus/
Heilig-Kreuz-Münster,
Schwäbisch Gmünd, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Erster von vier Teilen der
Predella des Sebaldusaltar mit einer Darstellung der Nothelfer Christophorus, Eustachius, Vitus und Georg (von links nach rechts) zusammen mit
dem Wappen des Stifters, angefertigt in der Werkstatt Albrecht Dürers. (Siehe
Monika Boosen und Johannes Schüle, Das Heilig-Kreuz-Münster in Schwäbisch
Gmünd, S. 74, 78–81; Lexikon der Heiligen und biblischen Gestalten,
Reclam, S. 469–471.)
Legends
of the Fourteen Holy Helpers – Saint Vitus, Martyr
Legend
Saint Vitus belonged to a
noble pagan family of Sicily, and was born about the year 291, at Mazurra. His
father, Hylas, placed him in early childhood in charge of a Christian couple
named Modestus and Crescentia, who raised him in the Christian faith, and had
him baptized. He grew in years and in virtue, till, at the age of twelve, he
was claimed by his father, who, to his great anger, found him a fervent
Christian. Convinced, after many unsuccessful attempts, that stripes and other
chastisements would not induce him to renounce the Faith, his father delivered
the brave boy up to Valerian, the governor, who in vain employed every artifice
to shake his constancy. Finally he commanded Vitus to be scourged, but when two
soldiers were about to execute this order their hands and those of Valerian
were suddenly lamed. The governor ascribed this to sorcery, yet he invoked
Vitus’ help, and behold, when the Christian boy made the sign of the cross over
the lamed members, they were healed. Then Valerian sent him back to his father,
telling him to leave no means untried to induce his son to sacrifice to the
idols.
Hylas now tried
blandishments, pleasures, and amusements to influence the brave boy. He even
sent a corrupt woman to tempt him, and for that purpose locked them both
together in one room. But Vitus, who had remained firm amid tortures, resisted
also the allurements of sensuality. Closing his eyes, he knelt in prayer, and
behold, an angel appeared, filling the room with heavenly splendor, and stood
at the youth’s side. Terrified, the woman fled. But even this miracle did not
change the obstinate father.
Finally Vitus escaped,
and with Modestus and Crescentia fled to Italy. They landed safe in Naples, and
there proclaimed Christ wherever they had an opportunity. Their fervor and many
miracles which they wrought attracted the attention of Emperor Diocletian to
them. He ordered them to be brought before his tribunal, which being done, he
at first treated them kindly, employing blandishments and making promises to
induce them to renounce Christ. When this had no effect, they were cruelly
tormented, but with no other result than confirming them in their constancy.
Enraged, the emperor condemned them to be thrown to the wild beasts. But the
lions and tigers forgot their ferocity and cowered at their feet. Now
Diocletian, whose fury knew no bounds, ordered them to be cast into a caldron
of molten lead and boiling pitch. They prayed, “O God, deliver us through the
power of Thy name!” and behold, they remained unharmed. Then the emperor
condemned them to the rack, on which they expired, in the year 303.
Lesson
The heroic spirit of
martyrdom exhibited by Saint Vitus was owing to the early impressions of piety
which he received through the teaching and example of his virtuous foster-parents.
The choice of teachers, nurses, and servants who have the care of children is
of the greatest importance on account of the influence they exert on them. The
pagan Romans were most solicitous that no slave whose speech was not perfectly
elegant and graceful should have access to children. Shall a Christian be less
careful as to their virtue? It is a fatal mistake to imagine that children are
too young to be infected with the contagion of vice. No age is more
impressionable than childhood; no one observes more closely than the young, and
nothing is so easily acquired by them as a spirit of vanity, pride, revenge,
obstinacy, sloth, etc., and nothing is harder to overcome. What a happiness for
a child to be formed to virtue from infancy, and to be instilled from a tender
age with the spirit of piety, simplicity, meekness, and mercy! Such a
foundation being well laid, the soul will easily, and sometimes without
experiencing severe conflicts, rise to the height of Christian perfection.
Prayer of the Church
We beseech Thee, O Lord,
to graciously grant us through the intercession of Thy blessed martyrs Vitus,
Modestus, and Crescentia, that we may not proudly exalt ourselves, but serve
Thee in humility and simplicity, so as to avoid evil and to do right for Thy
sake. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
– from Legends of the Fourteen Holy Helpers by
Father Bonaventure Hammer, 1908
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/legends-of-the-fourteen-holy-helpers-saint-vitus-martyr/
Krems
( Lower Austria ). Saint Vitus parish church: High altar ( 1735 ) by Joseph
Matthias Götz - Altar painting "Martyrdom of Saint Vitus" ( 1734 ) by
Johann Georg Schmidt.
Krems
( Niederösterreich ).Kath. Pfarrkirche, hl. Veit: Hochaltar ( 1735 ) von Joseph
Matthias Götz - Altarbild "Martyrium des heiligen Veit" von Johann
Georg Schmidt.
Krems
( Lower Austria ). Saint Vitus parish church: High altar ( 1735 ) by Joseph
Matthias Götz - Altar painting "Martyrdom of Saint Vitus" ( 1734 ) by
Johann Georg Schmidt.
Krems
( Niederösterreich ).Kath. Pfarrkirche, hl. Veit: Hochaltar ( 1735 ) von Joseph
Matthias Götz - Altarbild "Martyrium des heiligen Veit" von Johann
Georg Schmidt.
VITUS, MODESTUS, AND
CRESCENTIA, SS.
Martyrs. They appear to
be victims of the persecution of Diocletian and are mentioned in the
martyrology of st. jerome. Vitus appears in the old Sacramentarium Gelasianum,
while Modestus and Crescentia were added in the Roman Missal (Milan 1474).
Various copies of the passio do not merit credence, but according to
them Vitus was born in Sicily or Lucania. His Christian nurse was Crescentia
and her husband, Modestus. Since the fifth century churches were dedicated to
St. Vitus in Rome, Sicily, and Sardinia. In the Middle
Ages his cult spread, especially among Germans and Slavs, for his
miraculous power against epilepsy, which was called "St. Vitus
dance"; and for this reason he was enumerated among the "auxiliary
saints" or 14 Holy Helpers. St. Vitus's relics were first taken to Saint
Denis in Paris (c. 750), then to Corvey in Saxony (836); the head
was taken from Pavia to Prague in 1355 by the Emperor Charles IV. Vitus is
usually represented as immersed in a burning cauldron, or as holding a small
one in his hand and a dog on a leash.
Feast: June 15.
Bibliography: Acta
Sanctorum June 2:1013–42. Bibliotheca hagiographica latina antiquae
et mediae aetatis, 2 v. (Brussels 1898–1901; suppl. 1911) 8711–23. J. Braun, Tracht und Attribute der Heiligen in der deutschen Kunst (Stuttgart
1943) 728–738. P. Bruylants, Les Oraisons du Missel Romain, 2 v.
(Louvain 1952) 1:107. A. Paner, Swiety Wit (Gdansk 1995).
[E. Hoade]
New Catholic Encyclopedia
St.
Vitus, Modestus und Kreszenzia (Steinekirch)
Vitusstraße
4, Steinekirch, Zusmarshausen; Katholische Pfarrkirche St. Vitus, Saalbau mit
gotischem Fries, eingezogenem Chor, nördlichem Turm mit Zwiebelhaube und
östlich an den Chor angebauter Ölbergkapelle von um 1790, spätgotischer Bau des
späten 15. Jahrhunderts, barocker Ausbau 1760, Turmuntergeschosse 13./14.
Jahrhundert; mit Ausstattung; Friedhofsmauer.
Vitusstrasse
4, Steinekirch, Zusmarshausen; Église paroissiale catholique Saint-Guy, halle à
frise gothique, choeur escamoté, tour nord à bulbe et chapelle du Mont des
Oliviers vers 1790 rattachée au choeur à l'est, édifice gothique tardif de la
fin du XVe siècle, extension baroque en 1760 , étages inférieurs de la tour
13e/14e. Siècle; avec équipement; Mur du cimetière.
Pictorial
Lives of the Saints – Saints Vitus, Crescentia and Modestus, Martyrs
Article
Vitus was a child nobly
born, who had the happiness to be instructed in the faith, and inspired with
the most perfect sentiments of his religion, by his Christian nurse, named
Crescentia, and her faithful husband, Modestus. His father, Hylas, was
extremely incensed when he discovered the child’s invincible aversion to
idolatry; and finding him not to be overcome by stripes and such like
chastisements, he delivered him up to Valerian, the governor, who in vain tried
all his arts to work him into compliance with his father’s will and the
emperor’s edicts. He escaped out of their hands, and, together with Crescentia
and Modestus, fled into Italy. They there met with the crown of martyrdom in
Lucania, in the persecution of Diocletian. The heroic spirit of martyrdom which
we admire in Saint Vitus was owing to the early impressions of piety which he
received from the lessons and example of a virtuous nurse. Of such infinite
importance is the choice of virtuous preceptors, nurses, and servants about
children.
Reflection – What
happiness for an infant to be formed naturally to all virtue, and for the
spirit of simplicity, meekness, goodness, and piety to be moulded in its tender
frame! Such a foundation being well laid, further graces are abundantly
communicated, and a soul improves daily these seeds, and rises to the height of
Christian virtue often without experiencing severe conflicts of the passions.
MLA
Citation
John Dawson Gilmary Shea.
“Saints Vitus, Crescentia and Modestus, Martyrs”. Pictorial
Lives of the Saints, 1889. CatholicSaints.Info.
25 May 2014. Web. 17 June 2021.
<https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saints-vitus-crescentia-and-modestus-martyrs/>
Campanile
e chiesa parrocchiale dei Santi Vito, Modesto e Crescenzia in Badia Calavena
(VR)
Short
Lives of the Saints – Saints Vitus, Modestus, and Crescentia, Martyrs
Entry
Saint Vitus was the son
of noble Sicilian parents who were heathens; but the child having been
committed to the care of a Christian nurse named Crescentia, she, together with
her husband Modestus (who was also secretly a Christian), instructed the little
Vitus in the faith and had him baptized. At twelve years of age the boy openly
professed himself a Christian. His noble father was indignant, as was likewise
the governor of the island, Valerian. Vitus was beaten and shut up in a
dungeon; and the persecutions of his father still continuing, the youth fled
with his nurse and Modestus, and crossed the sea to Italy. But soon after their
arrival, they were all three accused before the satellites of the emperor
Diocletian, and received the crown of martyrdom.
At His will and bountiful decree,
From low, obscurest things,
In everlasting truth and harmony,
Celestial beauty springs.
– Father Caswall
Favorite Practice
– To secure the purest influences in the nurseries of young children.
MLA
Citation
Eleanor Cecilia Donnelly.
“Saints Vitus, Modestus, and Crescentia, Martyrs”. Short
Lives of the Saints, 1910. CatholicSaints.Info.
17 April 2021. Web. 17 June 2021. <https://catholicsaints.info/short-lives-of-the-saints-saints-vitus-modestus-and-crescentia-martyrs/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/short-lives-of-the-saints-saints-vitus-modestus-and-crescentia-martyrs/
Cisano
(Bardolino, Veneto), chiesa di Santa Maria - Affreschi abside, raffiguranti i
santi Giuliano, Vito, Modesto e Crescenzia
Cisano
(Bardolino, Veneto, Italy), Saint Mary church - Frescos of the apse, with
saints Julian, Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia
formerly 15
June
removed from the calendar
and cultus suppressed in 1969
Profile
Married to Saint Crescentia
of Lucania. Tutor of Saint Vitus;
he and Crescentia converted the boy to Christianity. Vitus‘s pagan father had
him arrested and scourged.
Freed from prison by
an angel,
he travelled with Vitus and Crescentia to Lucania and Rome, Italy. Martyr.
Modern scholarship
indicates that Modestus is probably a fiction added to the story of Vitus.
He was removed from the calendar and cultus suppressed in the calendar reform
of 1969.
boiled
in oil c.303 in Lucania, Italy
Additional
Information
Book
of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
Short
Lives of the Saints, by Eleanor Cecilia Donnelly
books
Our
Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other
sites in english
fonti
in italiano
nettsteder
i norsk
MLA
Citation
“Saint Modestus of
Lucania“. CatholicSaints.Info. 17 April 2021. Web. 17 June 2021.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-modestus-of-lucania/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-modestus-of-lucania/
Lofer
parish church - Gothic fresco ( 1330 ) showing Saint Vitus, accompanied by his
nurse Saint Crescentia and his teacher Saint Modestus.
Pfarrkirche
Lofer - Gotisches Fresco ( 1330 ) mit St. Veit, begleitet von seiner Amme St.
Crescentia und seinem Lehrer St. Modestus.
formerly 15
June
10
March (translation of relics)
removed from the calendar
and cultus suppressed in 1969
Profile
Married to Saint Modestus.
Nurse of Saint Vitus;
she and Modestus converted the boy to Christianity. Vitus‘s pagan father had
him arrested and scourged.
Freed from prison by
an angel,
she travelled with Vitus and Modestus to Lucania and Rome in Italy. Martyr.
boiled
in oil c.303 in Lucania, Italy
Additional
Information
Book
of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
Short
Lives of the Saints, by Eleanor Cecilia Donnelly
books
Our
Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other
sites in english
images
fonti
in italiano
MLA
Citation
“Saint Crescentia of
Lucania“. CatholicSaints.Info. 17 April 2021. Web. 17 June 2021.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-crescentia-of-lucania/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-crescentia-of-lucania/
San Vito Adolescente
martire
Festa: 15 giugno
Mazara del Vallo
(Trapani), III sec. – Lucania, 15 giugno 303
Non si conosce la sua
origine, anche se una "Passio" di nessun valore storico, lo fa
nascere in Sicilia da padre pagano e lo vuole incarcerato sette anni perché
cristiano. L'unica notizia attendibile su di lui si trova nel Martirologio
Gerominiano, da cui risulta che Vito visse in Lucania. Popolarissimo nel
medioevo, egli fu inserito nel gruppo dei Ss. Ausiliatori, i santi la cui
intercessione veniva considerata molto efficace in particolare occasioni e per
sanare determinate malattie. Egli veniva invocato per scongiurare la lettargia,
il morso di bestie velenose o idrofobe e il "ballo di San Vito". In
proposito la leggenda racconta che Vito, da bambino, abbia guarito il figlio di
Diocleziano, suo coetaneo, ammalato di epilessia.
Patronato: Danzatori,
Epilettici
Etimologia: Vito =
forse forte, virile, che ha in sé vita, dal latino
Emblema: Palma
Martirologio
Romano: In Basilicata, san Vito, martire.
San Vito fa parte dei 14 Santi Ausiliatori, molto venerati nel Medioevo, la cui intercessione veniva considerata particolarmente efficace nelle malattie o specifiche necessità. Gli altri tredici Ausiliatori sono: Acacio, Barbara, Biagio, Caterina d’Alessandria, Ciriaco, Cristoforo, Dionigi, Egidio, Erasmo, Eustachio, Giorgio, Margherita, Pantaleone.
Il culto per s. Vito è attestato dalla fine del V secolo, ma le notizie sulla sua vita sono poche e scarsamente attendibili. Alcuni antichi testi lo dicono lucano, ma la ‘Passio’ leggendaria del VII secolo, lo dice siciliano; nato secondo la tradizione a Mazara del Vallo in una ricca famiglia, rimasto orfano della madre, fu affidato ad una nutrice Crescenzia e poi al pedagogo Modesto, che essendo cristiani lo convertirono alla loro fede.
Aveva sui sette anni, quando cominciò a fare prodigi e quando nel 303 scoppiò in tutto l’impero romano, la persecuzione di Diocleziano contro i cristiani, Vito era già molto noto nella zona di Mazara.
Il padre non riuscendo a farlo abiurare, si crede che fosse ormai un’adolescente, lo denunziò al preside Valeriano, che ordinò di arrestarlo; che un padre convinto pagano, facesse arrestare un suo figlio o figlia divenuto cristiano, pur sapendo delle torture e morte a cui sarebbe andato incontro, è figura molto comune nei Martirologi dell’età delle persecuzioni, che come si sa, sotto vari titoli furono scritti secoli dopo e con l’enfasi della leggenda eroica.
Il preside Valeriano con minacce e lusinghe, tentò di farlo abiurare, anche con l’aiuto degli accorati appelli del padre, ma senza riuscirci; il ragazzo aveva come sostegno, con il loro esempio di coraggio e fedeltà a Cristo, la nutrice Crescenzia e il maestro Modesto, anche loro arrestati.
Visto l’inutilità dell’arresto, il preside lo rimandò a casa, allora il padre tentò di farlo sedurre da alcune donne compiacenti, ma Vito fu incorruttibile e quando Valeriano stava per farlo arrestare di nuovo, un angelo apparve a Modesto, ordinandogli di partire su una barca con il ragazzo e la nutrice.
Durante il viaggio per mare, un’aquila portò loro acqua e cibo, finché sbarcarono alla foce del Sele sulle coste del Cilento, inoltrandosi poi in Lucania (antico nome della Basilicata, ripristinato anche dal 1932 al 1945).
Vito continuò ad operare miracoli tanto da essere considerato un vero e proprio taumaturgo, testimoniando insieme ai due suoi accompagnatori, la sua fede con la parola e con i prodigi, finché non venne rintracciato dai soldati di Diocleziano, che lo condussero a Roma dall’imperatore, il quale saputo della fama di guaritore del ragazzo, l’aveva fatto cercare per mostrargli il figlio coetaneo di Vito, ammalato di epilessia, malattia che all’epoca era molto impressionante, tale da considerare l’ammalato un indemoniato.
Vito guarì il ragazzo e come ricompensa Diocleziano ordinò di torturarlo, perché si rifiutò di sacrificare agli dei; qui si inserisce la parte leggendaria della ‘Passio’ che poi non è dissimile nella sostanza, da quelle di altri martiri del tempo.
Venne immerso in un calderone di pece bollente, da cui ne uscì illeso; poi lo gettarono fra i leoni che invece di assalirlo, diventarono improvvisamente mansueti e gli leccarono i piedi. Continua la leggenda, che i torturatori non si arresero e appesero Vito, Modesto e Crescenzia ad un cavalletto, ma mentre le loro ossa venivano straziate, la terra cominciò a tremare e gli idoli caddero a terra; lo stesso Diocleziano fuggì spaventato.
Comparvero degli angeli che li liberarono e trasportarono presso il fiume Sele allora in Lucania, oggi dopo le definizioni territoriali successive, scorre in Campania, dove essi ormai sfiniti dalle torture subite, morirono il 15 giugno 303; non si è riusciti a definire bene l’età di Vito quando morì, alcuni studiosi dicono 12 anni, altri 15 e altri 17.
Purtroppo bisogna dire che il martirio in Lucania è l’unica notizia attendibile su s. Vito, mentre per tutto il resto si finisce nella leggenda. Il suo culto si diffuse in tutta la Cristianità, colpiva soprattutto la giovane età del martire e le sue doti taumaturgiche, è invocato contro l’epilessia e la corea, che è una malattia nervosa che dà movimenti incontrollabili, per questo è detta pure “ballo di san Vito”; poi è invocato contro il bisogno eccessivo di sonno e la catalessi, ma anche contro l’insonnia ed i morsi dei cani rabbiosi e l’ossessione demoniaca.
Protegge i muti, i sordi e singolarmente anche i ballerini, per la somiglianza nella gestualità agli epilettici. Per il grande calderone in cui fu immerso, è anche patrono dei calderai, ramai e bottai.
Secondo una versione tedesca della leggenda, nel 756 l’abate Fulrad di Saint-Denis, avrebbe fatto trasportare le reliquie di san Vito nel suo monastero di Parigi; poi nell’836 l’abate Ilduino le avrebbe donate al monastero di Korway nel Weser, che divenne un centro importante nel Medioevo, della devozione del giovane martire.
Durante la guerra dei Trent’anni (1618-48), le reliquie scomparvero da Korwey e raggiunsero nella stessa epoca Praga in Boemia, dove la cattedrale costruita nel X secolo, era dedicata al santo; a lui è consacrata una splendida cappella.
Bisogna dire che delle reliquie di san Vito, è piena l’Europa; circa 150 cittadine, vantano di possedere sue reliquie o frammenti, compreso Mazara del Vallo, che conserva un braccio, un osso della gamba e altri più piccoli.
Nella città ritenuta suo luogo di nascita, san Vito è festeggiato ogni anno con una solenne e tipica processione, che si svolge fra la terza e la quarta domenica d’agosto. Il “fistinu” in onore del santo patrono, ricorda la traslazione delle suddette reliquie, avvenuta nel 1742 ad opera del vescovo Giuseppe Stella.
La processione, indicata come la più mattiniera d’Italia, inizia alle quattro del mattino, con il trasporto della statua d’argento del santo, posta sul Carro trionfale, trainato a braccia dai pescatori, fino alla chiesetta di San Vito a Mare, accompagnato da una suggestiva fiaccolata e da fuochi d’artificio; da questo luogo si crede sia partito con la barca per sfuggire al padre e al preside Valeriano.
Una seconda processione è quella celebre storica-ideale a quadri viventi, è una serie di carri, su cui sono rappresentate da fedeli con gli abiti dell’epoca, scene della sua vita e del suo martirio, chiude la processione il già citato carro trionfale.
“U fistinu” si conclude nell’ultima domenica d’agosto, con un’ultima processione del carro trionfale diretto al porto-canale e da lì il simulacro di s. Vito, viene issato su uno dei pescherecci e seguito da un centinaio di altri pescherecci e barche, giunge fino all’altezza della Chiesetta di S. Vito al Mare, per ritornare infine al porto.
A Roma esiste la chiesa dei santi Vito e Modesto, dove in un affresco oltre il giovanetto, compaiono anche Modesto con il mantello da maestro e Crescenzia in aspetto matronale con il velo.
Nell’area germanica s. Vito è rappresentato come un ragazzo sporgente da un grosso paiolo, con il fuoco acceso sotto.
Il santuario in cui è venerato nell’allora Lucania, oggi nel Comune di Eboli in Campania, denominato S. Vito al Sele, era detto “Alecterius Locus” cioè “luogo del gallo bianco”; nella vicina città di Capaccio, nella chiesa di S. Pietro, è custodita una reliquia del santo, mentre nella frazione Capaccio Scalo, è sorta un’altra chiesa parrocchiale dedicata anch’essa a S. Vito; la diocesi di questi Comuni in cui il culto di S. Vito è così forte, perché qui morì con i suoi compagni di martirio, si chiama tuttora Vallo della Lucania, pur essendo in provincia di Salerno.
Il santo è anche patrono di Recanati e di Mascalucia (CT) e nella sola Italia,
ben 11 Comuni portano il suo nome.
Autore: Antonio
Borrelli
Lorenzo
Lotto (1480–1556), Altarpolyptychon von Recanati, rechter Flügel: Hl.
Petrus Märtyrer und Hl. Vitus, 1508, 155 x 67, Museo civico Villa Colloredo
Mels, Recanati
Lorenzo Lotto (1480–1556), Altarpolyptychon von Recanati, 1508, 227 x 108, Museo civico Villa Colloredo Mels, Recanati
Il nome Vito deriva dal latino e significa “virile, forte, pieno di vita”. Siciliano come Santa Lucia, e pure suo contemporaneo, Vito è un giovane santo molto conosciuto e amato, soprattutto in Basilicata. Considerato per tradizione il patrono dei ballerini, la sua storia è in parte leggendaria. Nasce a Mazara del Vallo (TP) nel III secolo, in una famiglia benestante pagana, durante la persecuzione dell’imperatore romano Diocleziano contro i cristiani. Rimane orfano di madre e viene convertito al messaggio evangelico dal maestro Modesto e dalla nutrice Crescenza contro il parere del padre, il senatore Hylas, che arriva a far picchiare il bambino per trascinarlo nell’idolatria, pur avendolo visto una volta avvolto in una luce intensissima, circondato da sette angeli.
Vito è un tenero giovinetto, ma sopporta tutto con pazienza e coraggio, non cede alle minacce del padre e continua ad amare Gesù. L’inumano padre consegna il bambino al crudele governatore della Sicilia Valeriano, ma Modesto e Crescenza riescono miracolosamente a liberarlo grazie all’aiuto di un angelo. Fuggono al Nord, via mare, e sbarcano alla foce del fiume Sele sulle coste del Cilento (SA), dirigendosi poi in Lucania dove diffondono il messaggio di Gesù. Secondo la leggenda, durante il viaggio in mare, i tre sarebbero stati sfamati da un’aquila che portava loro acqua e cibo. Vito non è che un ragazzino, eppure compie tanti miracoli come quelli di Sapri (SA) quando fa arrivare una nave carica di grano durante una tremenda carestia; trasforma l’acqua, dell’unico pozzo presente in città, da avvelenata, ad opera dei Borboni, in potabile; salva alcuni minatori dall’annegamento in una falda acquifera durante la costruzione della galleria ferroviaria che avrebbe dovuto collegare Maratea con il Cilento. La fama dei miracoli compiuti da Vito arriva fino a Roma: lo stesso Diocleziano lo chiama a corte per chiedergli la guarigione del figlio ammalato. Nonostante questo prodigio, Vito viene imprigionato assieme a Modesto e a Crescenza. Di fronte al rifiuto del giovinetto di adorare gli dei, tutti e tre subiscono la condanna a morte dall’ingrato imperatore, noncurante del fatto che Vito avesse appena salvato suo figlio dalle convulsioni epilettiche. Prima di venire ucciso il 15 giugno 303, Vito compie ancora un miracolo: gli scagliano contro un leone inferocito che di fronte al giovane diventa mansueto e si va ad accovacciare ai suoi piedi.
Sin dai primi secoli dopo la sua morte, e soprattutto dal Medioevo in avanti, la popolarità di San Vito aumenta sempre di più, tanto da essere considerato un santo “Ausiliatore” la cui intercessione viene ritenuta risolutiva per guarire da determinate malattie. Vito è molto venerato non solo dalla Chiesa cattolica, ma anche da quella ortodossa serba e bulgara. Le reliquie di San Vito si trovano a Praga, nella cattedrale a lui intitolata, anche se tanti altri luoghi europei rivendicano il privilegio di conservare alcune reliquie del santo, come Mazara del Vallo. È patrono di lattonieri, birrai, vignaioli, danzatori, ballerini, attori e commedianti. Protegge i cani e per questo motivo viene tradizionalmente raffigurato con accanto uno o due cagnolini; sembra, infatti, che Diocleziano, tra gli altri supplizi, gli abbia lanciato contro un cane “rabbioso” che San Vito guarì.
San Vito viene invocato contro epilessia, isteria, letargia, idrofobia, convulsioni, ossessioni, malattie degli occhi, morsi dei cani rabbiosi e delle bestie velenose. È un aiuto anche per insonni, sordi, muti e “Corea di Sydenham”, denominata “ballo di San Vito”, una malattia neurologica che provoca tic, tremori e rapidi movimenti involontari a scatto degli arti simili a passi di danza. Ecco perché quando una persona si agita di continuo si dice che ha il “ballo di San Vito”.
San Vito è presente in tutta Europa con oltre 150 chiese a lui intitolate. Luoghi di culto dedicati al giovane santo si trovano anche nella Valle del Sele, tra Avellino e Salerno e a Lomazzo (CO). È patrono di tante città italiane tra le quali: Recanati (MC), Loreto (AN), Montella (AV), Positano, Sapri, Eboli, (SA), Polignano a Mare (BA), Tricase (LE), Aieta (CS), Carini (PA), Mascalucia (CT), Chiaramonte Gulfi (RG) e Fiume (Croazia). E ben undici località, dal Nord al Centro al Sud, portano il suo nome. Famosa è la festa patronale di Mazara del Vallo (TP) “u fistinu di santu Vitu” con il corteo più mattiniero d’Italia che inizia alle quattro del mattino, con carro trionfale e giochi pirotecnici. A San Gregorio Magno (SA), dove sorge una chiesa a lui dedicata, il 15 giugno, per tradizione, i pastori portano cavalli, mucche, capre e pecore a girare attorno alla chiesa del Santo per tre volte, e altre persone, nel corso della giornata, arrivano con i loro cani e fanno il giro della chiesa ancora tre volte. Sempre il 15 giugno ad Albano di Lucania (PZ) si celebra San Vito con la processione per le vie del paese, serata danzante ed esibizioni degli sbandieratori. Anche nella vicina Banzi (PZ) si festeggia solennemente il patrono San Vito con fuochi d’artificio, processione e Storico Gran Concerto Lirico Sinfonico, con la Banda “Città di Gravina in Puglia” in movimento per le vie di Banzi.
Autore: Mariella Lentini
SOURCE : https://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/57300
Andalo
(Trentino), chiesa dei Santi Vito, Modesto e Crescenzia
Andalo
(Trentino, Italy), Saints Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia church
Santi Modesto e
Crescenzia Martiri
m. Lucania, 15 giugno 303
Etimologia: Modesto = semplice, riservato, dal latino
Crescenzia = accresce (la famiglia)
Emblema: Palma
Nonostante il nuovo Martyrologium Romanum si limiti in data odierna a citare singolarmente il giovane martire siculo San Vito, sono comunque degni di nota coloro che una plurisecolare tradizione ha voluto affiancargli come compagni di vita e di martirio, i Santi Modesto e Crescenzia, rispettivamente suo maestro e sua nutrice. Entrambi accostarono Vito alla fede cristiana, nonostante l’opposizione di suo padre. Questi cercò di fargli rinnegare la nuova religione, ma Vito rimase saldo agli insegnamenti ricevuti e preferì fuggire con Modesto e Crescenza in Lucania, ove al tempo dell’imperatore Diocleziano subirono il martirio. In tutta questa vicenda non vi è assolutamente nulla di storico, in quanto la Passio redatta sul loro conto ha un carattere esclusivamente leggendario.
Una primitiva forma di culto nacque inizialmente solo per Vito, citato senza i due compagni nel Martirologio Geronimiano, nei martirologi di San Beda il Venerabile e nell’Antico Martirologio inglese. Solo in un secondo momento gli furono accostate le misteriose figure di Modesto e Crescenzia, con i quali pare abbia condiviso il martirio bollendo in un pentolone, leggenda ripresa da una vasta iconografia tradizionale. La presenza di Vito tra i Quattordici Santi Ausiliatori ha favorito la diffusione nell’intera Europa del culto di Modesto e Crescenzia, fattore ancora oggi riscontrabile nelle numerose chiese dedicate non solo al giovane martire, ma denominate invece Santi Vito, Modesto e Crescenzia. Sarebbe quasi impossibile elencare le numerose località che si contendono la presenza delle reliquie dei tre martiri, come spesso accade per i santi di quel periodo, e che li hanno conseguentemente eletti quali loro celesti patroni.
Autore: Fabio Arduino
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/77000
Schwabach
- City Church. Altar of Saint Sebastian ( 1490 ) with closed wings showing the
Fourteen Holy Helpers - Saints Eustace, Christopher, Sebastian and Vitus.
Schwabach - Stadtkirche. Sebastiansaltar ( 1490 ) mit geschlossenen Flügeln: 14 Nothelfer - Heilige Eustachius, Christopherus, Sebastian und Veit
Den hellige Vitus (~293
(298?) - ~305)
Minnedag: 15.
juni
Skytshelgen for Sicilia,
Bøhmen, Pommern, Sachsen, Niedersachsen, Rügen; for Praha, Corvey,
Mönchengladbach, Höxter, Ellwangen, Krems; for de saksiske keiserne; for
apotekere, vindyrkere, ølbryggere, gjestgivere, bergverksarbeidere, smeder,
kobbersmeder, dansere, skuespillere, komikere; for kilder; for hunder og husdyr
og fugler; for ungdom, for bevaring av kyskhet, mot ufruktbarhet; for de
stumme, de døve og de blinde; beskytter mot gale hunder, slanger og andre
angripende dyr; mot slangebitt, hundegalskap, epilepsi, besettelse,
sinnsbevegelse, hysteri og kramper; mot øye- og ørelidelser; mot sengevæting;
mot lyn og storm og brannfare; for en god såing og en god avling. En av de
14 nødhjelperne
Sammen med de hellige
Modestus og Crescentia
Den hellige Vitus (Veit,
Guy) er blitt æret fra de tidligste kristne tider, men hans autentiske historie
har ikke overlevd. Han led trolig martyrdøden i Lucania i det sørlige Italia.
Hans legende, som er et sent og fantasifullt verk, forbinder ham med Sicilia.
Den hellige Vitus var
sønn av hedenske foreldre, hans mor het Evescentia og hans far var siciliansk
senator. Han var født på sørvestkysten av Sicilia og fikk en kristen oppdragelse
av sin barnepike Crescentia og hennes mann Modestus, som var Vitus' lærer. Da
faren fikk høre dette, ville han tvinge sønnen til å oppgi kristendommen. Men
den 12-årige gutten var standhaftig og holdt fast ved sin tro. Da overleverte
den grusomme faren sønnen til guvernøren på Sicilia, bøddelen Valerian, som
ville slå Vitus til han føyde seg. Men Vitus fikk da den nådegave å utføre
undere. Da bøddelen løftet armen med pisken, ble den lammet. Men Vitus
helbredet den med bønn.
Faren sperret sønnen inne,
og kikket inn til ham gjennom en spalte. Der fikk han se gutten sammen med to
engler, og lyset fra dem blindet ham. Samtidig viste en engel seg for Modestus
og befalte ham å ta med gutten til et fremmed land, og sammen med Crescentia
dro de til Lucania i Sør-Italia. Der prekte gutten om Kristus for hedningene og
gjorde mange undre. En ørn brakte ham daglig brød.
Så ble sønnen til keiser
Diokletian i Roma syk av epilepsi, man mente han var besatt av en ond ånd. Da
keiseren hørte om undrene i Lucana, sendte han bud på Vitus. Da denne la hånden
på keisersønnens hode i Herrens navn, fór den onde ånden ut. Men i stedet for
takk forlangte keiseren at gutten skulle avsverge sin tro og tilbe de hedenske
gudene, men gutten var like fast overfor keiseren som han hadde vært overfor
faren så han og Modestus ble kastet i fengsel.
Vitus ble kastet i en
kjele med kokende bek sammen med barnepiken og læreren uten at det skadet dem;
så ble de kastet for løvene, men de slikket deres føtter og rørte dem ikke.
Gutten ble lagt på pinebenken, og da han skrek ut i smerte: "Herre, frels
meg!" kom det torden og lyn, jorden rystet og avgudsbildene ble knust. Da
ble de tre halshogd, og ned fra himmelen steg en Herrens engel og førte deres
sjeler med seg til paradis. Dette skjedde i år 305. Flere ørner skal i følge
legenden ha voktet deres legemer inntil en kristen kvinne fikk gravlagt dem.
En annen versjon av
legenden lar dem slippe uskadd fra torturen og bli befridd fra fangenskapet
under den voldsomme stormen. Under dekke av den førte en engel dem tilbake til
Lucania, hvor de døde.
Legenden finnes i flere
varianter; i noen av dem tar moren Crescentias plass. Mye tyder på at legenden
er en sammenblanding av to: Vitus (alene) i Lucania og Vitus, Modestus og
Crescentia på Sicilia. Vitus' alder varierer mellom sju og fjorten år. Det som synes
sikkert er at kulten for Vitus alene er den eldste, som i Hieronymus'
martyrologium, Gelasius' sakramentarium og i en tidlig sør-italiensk
evangeliebok. I sistnevnte knyttes hans fest til en passasje fra evangeliet som
handler om kurering av demonbesettelse og sykdom. En gammel kirke på
Esquilin-høyden i Roma var viet til ham. Beda
den Ærverdiges martyrologium og det gammelengelske martyrologiet nevner
begge Vitus alene.
Hans formodede relikvier
ble overført til klosteret Saint-Denis i 756. Derfra ble de overført til
klosteret Corvey ved Weser i Westfalen i 836. På samme måte som i Italia ble
Vitus deretter særlig feiret i Tyskland. Den hellige hertug Venceslas
av Bøhmen fikk en av helgenens armer, og for den bygde han en kirke.
Fra den oppsto dagens mektige og berømte St. Veits-katedralen, et praktfullt
gotisk byggverk på slottshøyden i Praha. I 1355 førte keiser Karl IV flere
relikvier til Praha fra Pavia, uten at man kunne garantere ektheten. Under
Trettiårskrigen ble resten av Vitus-relikviene brakt fra Corvey til Praha, slik
at man i Praha var stolte over å ha Vitus' grav. Men det er i alt 150 steder
som hevder å ha relikvier av Vitus.
Kirker har blitt viet til
Vitus siden 400-tallet, og i hundrevis av kirker og kapeller valgte man ham som
skytshelgen. Han hadde mer enn 34 patronater, fra apotekere og bryggere til de
stumme, de døve og de blinde samt de som var bitt av gale hunder og slanger. I
Tyskland ble Vitus på 1300-tallet opptatt som en av de
fjorten nødhjelperne, og han ble særlig anropt av unge mennesker og barn.
Hans voldsomme popularitet skyldtes nok delvis at han ble henrettet så ung. Han
var spesielt populær fra middelalderen til og med barokktiden. Også i
diktningen er hans liv og død hyppig skildret.
I middelalderen valfartet
epileptikere og de som led av nervesykdommen sancti Viti, eller sanktveitsdans
(chorea) til hans kapell nær Strasbourg. I Rhinland og Italia var sykdommen
epidemisk i middelalderen, men folk trodde at de syke var smittet av
edderkoppen Tarantella. "Dansemanien" som opptrådte i middelalderske
epidemier, kan ha vært en form for massehysteri; men forgiftning fra rabies,
slangebitt, insektstikk eller matforgiftning kunne gi lignende symptomer. Via
sykdomsnavnet St. Veitsdans ble Vitus også skytshelgen for dansere,
skuespillere og komikere.
Hans minnedag er 15.
juni. Hans navn står i Martyrologium Romanum sammen med de hellige Modestus og
Crescentia. Siden 1969 er Vitus' kult henvist til lokale kalendere, mens
Modestus og Crescentia nå regnes som oppdiktede personer.
Hans attributt er en
kjele med kokende bek, martyrpalme, sverd, bok, brød, ørn, hane, løve eller
hund. Hanen har han fra den fortrengte slaviske lysguden Svantivit, og hunden
skyldes hans patronat som beskytter mot gale hunder og andre angripende dyr.
Vitus fremstilles som en gutt i fornemme klær. Med henvisning til hans patronat
for det saksiske kongehuset fremstilles han også med herskerattributter. Men
oftest fremstilles hans martyrium.
SOURCE : http://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/vitus
Voir aussi : https://web.archive.org/web/20070825052829/http://www.diocesimazara.it/storia_SVito.htm
